Newbie's questions

hello nagesh.

Various p2p clients come with some form of adware or netware. A few are safe but both the ones you listed are not. The main threat with p2p clients, comes from the files that traded on the network. You have no means of identiying if the files ahve been tampered with. It very likely they contain trojans which drop a payload on to your system when they are run. Although the file may contain the information or application you want, they also contain the malicious embedded in them. In the case of warez, almost all the files have been illegaly cracked or doctored to get around license issues. There is a high possibility of trojaned apps on this network.
There are more issues involved, becuase these apps, in order to connect to the network they are a part of, require a hole poked through your firewall on unusual port nos. There is a possibilty that more ports are open and bound to them, (or they are listening on them) than you know about.

Together by using these two sofwares you are opening your computer to a host of attacks and threats.

Using a firewall is a must. If the number of alerts are irritating you, you must configure your firewall to let certain known to be safe programs through. Be careful in your selection of these programs.
Using two firewalls together is not a good idea. The extra packet filtering will slow your pc down. Using Zonealarm and Norton AV but with Norton Internet Security (NIS) disabled is ok, but make sure that NIS is not running.

The programs you have mentioned help keep your computer safe. Scan regularily with them. Please try using an alternate browser like Firefox. Almost all attacks are aimed at IE users. Switching browsers is a step to help protect your system. Firefox is free and pretty awesome

Remember prudence and safe browsing are the best ways to internet security.

Thank you very much for your informative reply
I am sure with knowledgeable techies like you here, my time won't be wasted...
Yes I do use Mozilla Firefox 1.0 as an alternative Browser regularly.
I find that there is rarely if any case of a Tool bar attachemnt getting onto Firefix like it somoften does with IE6sp1

By the way if Not WAREZ and Kazaa, which, in your opinion, are other SAFE P2P applications available?

Regards

Nagesh

ummm.. wel actually, its not the clients it self that are the main threat but the files that you trade over the network, and the way the clients interacts with the network (on non standard ports).

If you must use a p2p then the only one i would suggest is shareaza. Its a freeware, and released under the GPL (GNU Public License). Mind you i do not reccomend any software like warez. I am not a big fan of cracked software. And there is def. garuntee that cracked software has been taken apart by advanced crackers.. there is no knowing what kind of backdoors they could have created.
Please exercise caution with any files you get of a p2p network. always scan them with Antivirus scanner before running them. And avoid pronography, as those kind of files have a high infection rate

But for the record i do not recommend any p2p2 client

ps: on a side note ? are you from india ? I'm from india too... Goa to be precise... you ? always lookign for others here

There are two more programs, both of which are free and offer real-time protection, you may want to look into. These are Spywareguard, and SpyBlaster. You can find them both at www.majorgeeks.com.

Hello MSBI and seack 79
Thanks you both

Yes, One MSBi
I am working in Bangalore, India serving in a CAD Company here as VP-Engg. I am from Karnataka and have visited Goa.. Its a beautiful place.Lucky You!!
I have already downloaded and started using Spyware Blaster and Spyware Guard.
Thanks vey much

Nagesh
Bangalore